The Bone Witch immediately introduces the reader to the primary character, Tea an asha (witch) whom is different from the other asha’s in her family. She has a gift for necromancy, which makes her a bone witch. Bone witches are ostracized in the kingdom; their power is elemental and reaches beyond the boundaries of the natural world and humanity.

The novel consists of two intertwined stories that function as one. In the present, a bard recounts experiences with an exiled asha he meets on a fantastical beach of skulls. The second occurs in the past where the same asha tells of her rise within the community of spellbinders who take her in to be trained.

Tea lives in a world of eight kingdoms, one where a war is on the horizon. Her entire being is put at risk and she must leave behind the life she has always known to come into her power. Tea is the epitome of a strong female protagonist, she takes bold risks for the gain of others. She sacrifices her happiness to ensure others will be safe.

The story is filled with twists and turns the reader doesn’t anticipate coming. Suspenseful, charming and gripping—a book to read in one sitting. I was absolutely enthralled by the world within The Bone Witch. The characters sprung to life from the pages. It is hard to make stories about spellcrafters seem ‘real’ and Rin Chupeco certainly caught a homerun with this release.

Chupeco has a unique and beautiful style of writing. The hideous beasts that come to life in the second half are done so in such an eloquent language. Her descriptions are lovely, truly lifelike. At times a clear photograph of the novels events were dancing in my mind.

There is a great magical background, filled with fantastic monsters that lurk in the dark. There is a sequel in the works and I couldn’t be happier.

A verse that really spoke out to me and proves a testament to the power of storytelling displayed:“But I feel so helpless.” “That is usually the rule when you are taken advantage of. You can be the most powerful witch in the land, but you will always have a weakness, and that will always make you believe you have no power when someone exploits it. There is no greater strength than the ability to understand and accept your own flaws.”

The Woman In Cabin 10 set the standard high for 2017 thrillers with it’s first release. I loved this book so much, I wanted to do a ‘reread’ alongside the audio book

. Ruth Ware pulls the reader into an intricate mystery, filled with loveable characters and an original world. We are instantly brought into the life of Lo Blackwood, a journalist who writes for a travel magazine. We find her in a place of discontent; she is frustrated with work, personal relationships and her home life. Lo is not the picture-perfect protagonist that we have come to expect from thrillers.

Lo’s luck seems to have changed when she is given the assignment of her career: a week on a luxury cruise filled with peers she admires and the promise of northern lights aboard the Aurora. What could go wrong aboard a posh liner on the high seas?

The first few days are flawless, Lo is living the life she dreams of. As a reader we know this is too good be true, our dear protagonist cannot her happy ending so quickly. The maiden voyage of the Aurora will take 10 passengers around the Norwegian fjords in class. Of course, we know her luck is about to turn sour once again. On a frigid, windy night, Lo witnesses what she believes to be a woman thrown overboard from the balcony beside her suite. Frantic, she checks the next room only to find cabin 9 is empty.

After reporting the incident and discovering that all passengers and crew are accounted for, the reader is placed in a tricky spot; was our protagonist just imagining this or was it real?

Ware articulates each miniscule detail, and the story comes to life like a film reel in our mind. We feel the panic, the fear and the mania that Lo is experiencing. We watch, as an omniscient bystander to her woes and struggles.

Thrillers with female protagonists seem to be the hot trend in adult fiction and it is hard for readers to come across original stories. The Woman In Cabin 10 is refreshingly different and takes the reader away from the norms of a conventional thriller.

Lo is often unlikeable and her point of view is unreliable at the best of times. Which drives this story to the great success that it is. If we can’t trust the protagonist, what else is hiding below the surface of the story?

The Alberta Ballet, led by artistic director Jean Grand-Maître presents world class dancing to Western audiences. Each year, the performances continue to stun audiences. A fusion of fresh and familiar stories enchant us, leaving us breathless at final curtain of each show.

This season’s mix of classical, pop cultural works and contemporary pieces pay a nod to classic ballet’s foundations; sugar and an extra amount of spice is added to make each performance jaw dropping.

2018/2019 has been a thrilling season thus far. This year marks the 10th anniversary of Alberta Ballet’s The Nutcracker. Lauded by many as one of the finest interpretations of this holiday classic, Edmund Stripe sets his version smack-dab in the centre of Imperial Russia. He sticks close to Tchaikovsky’s score as we follow child heroine Klara in her quest to save Christmas. The choreography is precise and classical. Return viewers should keep an eye out for choreographic flourishes and guest appearances to mark the productions’s anniversary.

Meet A Ballerina

On Dec. 8, bring your kids or just come yourself and join the Alberta Ballet for an exclusive opportunity to get up close with a true ballerina. Alberta Ballet dancer, Reilley McKinlay, will be at Manulife Place for a one-day only meet and greet opportunity from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Reilley has recently danced in productions such as Jean Grand-Maitre’s Winter Room, Wen Wei Wang’s Futureland.

She will be available for photos and interviews to discuss what it’s like to be a dancer with the Alberta Ballet and to delve into her upcoming performance in The Nutcracker on Dec. 6-9.

Come down to take pictures and get autographs with Reilley, as well as enter a draw to win an autographed pair of pointe shoes.